Best Community Gardens and Green Spaces for Urban Farming in Jersey City

Jersey City, renowned for its lively urban landscape, also has a thriving community of urban farmers and gardeners. Amidst the concrete jungle, a network of community gardens and green spaces provides families with opportunities to cultivate their patches of greenery. These spaces contribute to the city’s sustainability efforts and foster a sense of community and connection to nature. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best community gardens and green spaces for urban farming in Jersey City, each offering a unique environment for gardening enthusiasts. Most of these gardens are actively being taken care of. However, please check their websites/social media for updates or lack thereof, since these are volunteer-run and some years they might be less active than others.

On municipal-owned properties & part of the Adopt-A-Lot Prog:

Brunswick Community Garden

174-176 Brunswick Avenue

Brunswick Community Garden is a testament to urban farming in Jersey City. This busy garden, located at 178 Brunswick St, offers residents an oasis of greenery amidst the cityscape. With its lively atmosphere and diverse array of cultivated plants, it serves as a hub for community engagement and sustainable living. Gardeners tend to their plots passionately, growing everything from vegetables to flowers, fostering a sense of pride and connection to the land.

Families can engage in various activities at the Brunswick Community Garden, including planting vegetables, tending to crops, and learning sustainable gardening practices. Children can explore nature, while adults enjoy gardening together, fostering a sense of community. Families may also participate in workshops, exchanging knowledge and experiences with fellow gardeners. The garden provides a space for relaxation, picnics, and outdoor gatherings, strengthening family bonds amidst the beauty of nature. Also, families can contribute to local food security efforts by growing fresh produce to share with the community, promoting healthier lifestyles and environmental stewardship for future generations.

City Hall Children’s Garden

280 Grove St., Jersey City

Healthier JC was established in 2014 and began as a partnership, development, and branding office of the Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services. Heathier JC is a great way to create relationships with the community to successfully improve health through different social spheres. Please check their website for updates.

Ogden’s End Community Garden

102 Ogden Ave

Ogden’s End is a 100% volunteer-run. Ogden’s End is 100% volunteer-run. Their sponsors include the Riverview Neighborhood Association, Farms in the Heights, The City of Jersey City, SK Landscaping and Design, A.B. Cruz General Construction and Palisade Wine and Liquors. Apart from the volunteer-run gardens, they also have events like the recent Garden Crawl they had, which started from Ogden’s End and finished at Riverview Park.

Riverview Community Garden

285 Ogden Avenue

Riverview Community Garden is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization that has been an integral part of the Jersey City Heights community since 1995. First, you need to become a member. Membership allows you to care for community areas (such as our food share, medicinal and pollinator plots), to have daily access to the garden, and to get involved with activities such as composting & beekeeping. For more details, click here.

On private properties:

A.N.G.E L.S. Garden in The Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery

435 Newark Ave

The Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery, founded in 1829, is a National Treasure and is the resting place of soldiers from the Revolutionary & Civil Wars, the War of 1812, the Spanish-American War, WWI & II, and Jersey City founders & legends.

Healing Garden at the Margaret Anna Cusack Care Center

The “Healing Garden” is located at the Margaret Anna Cusack Care Center, which is a facility of Peace Care St. Joseph’s in Jersey City, NJ. The garden, designed by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey (NPSNJ), offers a serene space for relaxation and events, such as outdoor performances by the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players. It is located at the corner of Magnolia Ave & Baldwin Ave.

Sgt. Anthony Garden

90-100 Palisade Ave
The community garden is one of the highlights of the Sgt Anthony Park. Added to the park in 2011, the community garden and dog run were on land that was unused and the city was not allowed to hand over to developers. Over the years, the space has changed a lot, and it now includes 10 organic vegetable plots, and a large area full of beautiful plants, trees and shrubs. Keyed access to the community garden is included in the Sgt. Anthony Park Association membership and access to the public are available whenever members are present.

Plots for vegetable growing are available each year for a fee (includes Sgt Anthony Park Neighborhood Association Membership). Our Head Gardener for the Community Garden is Norrice Raymaker. To find out if there is a plot available or if you would like to become a member and access the garden, please contact [email protected]

Where’s Waldo Community Garden

Waldo Ave At Alan Terrace, Jersey City

Waldo Community Garden is a Community Garden located on Waldo Avenue at Alan Terrace in Jersey City. Please check their Facebook for more details.

Storms Avenue Community Garden

80 Storms Ave, Jersey City

The garden is located behind 80 Storms Ave in Jersey City, NJ. There is a sign on the gate.
Public Garden Hours: Feel free to visit when the gate is open. The garden is accessible by a walkway next to 80 Storms Avenue, 07304. It is owned by the Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corp and is operated by New City Kids and Bergen Communities United. Due to the expected demolition and construction on a neighboring property, they may not have regularly scheduled hours this season. More details here.

Other:

Canco Park

47 Dey St

Sustainable public urban pocket park green space venue in Jersey City, NJ’s Marion Warehouse District. Restored gardens are Certified Native Wildlife Habitats supporting many species of birds, butterflies, and insects. Educational and Arts Programming. Canco Park is 15,000 square feet of beautiful passive park with a rolling grass hill and a stand of white birch trees to sit under on a warm summer day. In the spring of 2018, the Canco Park Conservancy was formed in an effort to foster community and well-being in the park. The Conservancy has helped the park be in sync with nature by planting native species plants. The park has been recognized by the North American Butterfly Association & Monarchwatch.org for the pollinator garden and the Audubon Society & the National Wildlife Federation for its native plantings and wildlife habitat restoration efforts. Please visit Canco Park for one of the programs happening here, or just come as you are and enjoy a piece of nature in this former industrial complex.

Western Slope Garden

This is a native plant community garden in its infancy. Located in the Western Slope of Jersey City Heights. Follow their Instagram for details and information on activities like helping in cleaning up litter, watering the planters, and putting some plants in the planters. Or you just stop by to admire the flowers and the bees.

Hope Garden Jersey City

4140 Ogden Ave

Restoring this rain garden and beloved community spot. Let’s bring back the gorgeous flowers, feed the butterflies, and beautify the block. They have events where they team up with their neighbor gardens for a casual summer community garden crawl.

Bayside Crescent Pollinator Garden & Green Classroom in Bayside Park

99 Bayside Park Dr. Jersey City

The Bayside Crescent Pollinator Garden & Green Classroom is located in Bayside Park in Jersey City, New Jersey. It is a native plant and wildlife habitat that also serves as an outdoor classroom. While the park itself is located at 99 Bayside Park Dr, the specific garden is situated within the park, near the intersection of Garfield Avenue and Bayside Park Drive.
The garden features native plants to provide food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife. Local volunteers and community members can assist with maintaining the garden during special events.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Learning Garden in Lincoln Park

Communipaw Ave, Marcy Ave At

4‑H is the youth development component of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, connecting youth and our community to Rutgers University (4-H Connects Kids with Rutgers). The 4-H Youth Development Program uses a learn-by-doing approach to enable youth to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become competent, caring, and contributing citizens of the world.

Rose Avenue Urban Farm

Greenville JC’s first-ever urban farm is here to bring environmental impact and teach our youth sustainable produce. Check more details here.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Hudson County Pop-up Garden & Outdoor Learning Space

95 Morgan Street, Jersey City

Volunteers, staff, board members, and youth created this space, from building the learning steps to building and painting the raised beds to planting flowers and vegetables to painting the murals. They continue to cultivate and harvest the plants, many used for our farm-to-table initiative. Funding continues to allow us to purchase the equipment and plants to sustain and expand the garden.
This pop-up garden and outdoor learning space (located at 95 Morgan Street in Jersey City) allows our youth to garden, read, learn, create arts and crafts, play games, explore nature, have science lessons, and enjoy the fresh air in a safe and secure area only open to the Club. Teen youth have the opportunity for paid employment to build and maintain the garden through our workforce development program. We’ve also had wonderful special events, from a Halloween Festival to wreath-making at Christmas time!

Arlington Avenue Community Garden, Jersey City

285 Arlington Ave, Jersey City

They have a private Facebook page that you can join to connect with other members. They coordinate plots and cleanup/weeding/watering efforts, and share news about community events. Garden members are welcome to care for and grow plants in communal and individual plots, and they aim to develop the garden into a space for hosting community events.

Hamilton Park Children’s Garden

McWilliams Place & 8th St
Tucked away within the scenic expanse of Hamilton Park, the Hamilton Park Community Garden offers a tranquil retreat for urban farmers and gardening enthusiasts alike. Situated amidst the hustle and bustle of Jersey City, this verdant sanctuary provides residents a respite from the urban landscape. Gardeners meticulously cultivate an impressive array of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. The garden’s serene ambiance encourages reflection and connection with nature, fostering a sense of well-being among visitors.
Families can embark on various distinctive activities tailored to their interests at Hamilton Park Community Garden. They might delve into the creative process of designing and cultivating themed garden plots, such as a “pizza garden” abundant with tomatoes and herbs, sparking culinary inspiration. Interactive cooking classes offer an opportunity for families to bond while utilizing the garden’s fresh produce in delicious recipes, fostering practical skills and a deeper connection to food sources. Engaging in a garden-themed scavenger hunt adds an element of excitement as families explore the diverse array of plants and insects inhabiting the garden’s ecosystem.

Lafayette Community Learning Garden 

312 Pacific Ave, Jersey City

Located within the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood, the Bergen-Lafayette Community Garden is a hub for urban farming and community engagement. Gardeners enthusiastically cultivate various crops, from hearty vegetables to fragrant herbs. Beyond its immediate surroundings, the Bergen-Lafayette Community Garden positively impacts the neighborhood, inspiring residents to embrace healthier lifestyles and foster a deeper appreciation for nature.
In this park, families can do all sorts of activities, like community mural projects and transforming garden walls into canvases that reflect the diverse culture and history of the neighborhood. Families can also engage in intergenerational gardening workshops, where elders pass down traditional planting techniques and wisdom to younger generations, preserving cultural heritage, also, for those with a culinary inclination, themed cooking competitions using garden-grown ingredients. It offers a fun and delicious way to showcase culinary skills while promoting healthy eating habits.

John De Salvo Playground Community Garden 

Pavonia Ave at Brunswick St, Jersey City

Under the Jersey City Adopt-A-Lot program, neighbors started a community flower garden. For more details, click here.